Birmingham man files suit after circumcision turns into amputation

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) – In a lawsuit filed in a Jefferson County Circuit Court on July 22, 2014, a 59-year-old Birmingham man says that his penis was amputated without permission during a circumcision performed a Princeton Medical Center in June.

Two Birmingham doctors are named in the lawsuit, as well as Princeton Baptist Medical Center, Urology Centers of Alabama and Simon-Williamson Clinic.

The lawsuit states the patient was receiving medical treatment from a doctor with Urology Centers of Alabama at Princeton Baptist Medical Center. Another doctor performed the surgical procedure. When he awoke his penis had been amputated. According to the lawsuit, the patient had never given his consent for a complete or partial amputation.

Mike Florie, represents the physician’s and the clinic’s where they work says the complaints are “totally and completely untrue.”

In a statement to WIAT42 News Florie says:

“They have no basis in fact. We intend to defend these physicians vigorously and seek all appropriate remedies. The two physicians named in the complaint did not even perform the circumcision that is alleged. When all of the facts are known it will be shown that this is an unfair attempt to damage the reputation of dedicated physicians with sensational claims that are completely false.”

“It should speak volumes to the public that the lawyer who filed this case has admitted openly to the media that he has never even requested or reviewed the medical records” he adds.

John P. Graves, attorney for the man filing the suit says they have been unable to obtain medical records for his client and the lawsuit is based on what he knows so far.

“If the hospital and the medical providers would produce the medical records that we requested, about two and a half weeks ago now, we would know who was precisely involved. Usually that’s the protocol we follow. We try to get the medical records first in order to identify the potential defendants, but in this case we didn’t received the medical records and we felt it best to proceed forward with the case and we can always amend the complaint once we have a court order forcing the production of the medical records,” said Graves.

“I spoke with my client today when I was returning to the office from court, he was a little upbeat but he was upset that he read in the newspaper that people characterized his case as non-meritorious, but I told him that was just talk. The true nature of the case will be determined in litigation and in court.”

“I can absolutely assure the public that my clients didn’t file this suit to smear any doctor’s good names or to besmirch the reputation of any practice. That’s not why we litigate in the civil form. Civil litigation is about resolving disputes in a civilized fashion,” he adds.